Chris Henderson has seen fast starts before.
Henderson is the technical director for Seattle Sounders FC, which puts its 3-0-0 record on the line tonight at Qwest Field against the Kansas City Wizards.
However, Henderson also was a member of one of the great teams in the history of Major League Soccer: the 2000 Wizards, who won the Supporters’ Shield (best regular-season record) and the MLS Cup (playoff champion).
“It was a great year,” said Henderson, a 1989 graduate of Cascade High in Everett. “We had a lot of castoffs from a lot of teams who came there and put it all together. We didn’t lose the first 12 games, and we kept up all the way through the season.”
The Wizards opened the season with 10 wins and two draws over their first dozen games. And by the end, the team won its hardware. Tony Meola was named league MVP, MLS Cup MVP, goalkeeper of the year and comeback player of the year. Peter Vermes won MLS defender of the year. Bob Gansler was coach of the year. Vermes and Meola were each named among the MLS Best XI.
Given that the Sounders’ success has been limited to three games, Henderson was asked when those 2000 Wizards began to believe that they weren’t just off to a great start but that they might actually be on their way to a great season.
“I think after game six, seven, eight, everyone starts believing in the chemistry and you believe that you’re a hard team to beat,” he said. “It’s the chemistry and almost a swagger when you walk out there that you know you’re going to have a chance to win every game. We had (Miklos) Molnar on top scoring goals; and when you have a guy who you know at any point can score, it helps you because you’re defending and working hard and fighting for each other and knowing it might just take one chance and you win.”
Such a feeling is beginning to stir in the Sounders. Beyond their perfect record, they have scored the most goals in MLS (seven) and they are the only team not to have allowed a goal.
After three weeks, two Sounders have been selected MLS player of the week: forward Fredy Montero in Week 1 and goalkeeper Kasey Keller in Week 2. Keller leads the league in shutouts and his 270 scoreless minutes to open the season is the second longest in MLS history. Montero leads the league in scoring – three goals and one assist – despite sitting out last week with flu-like symptoms.
He is expected back tonight, sharing the starting lineup for the first time with former Arsenal star Freddie Ljungberg.
Looking to dent the Sounders’ perfect record is a Wizards team that lost its first two games before breaking through Sunday with a 2-0 win over San Jose.
“I think Kansas City, just from a player-personnel standpoint, probably has the most speed on the flanks of the three teams we played so far,” Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said. “And (they) can play the most in terms of width and counter-attacking.”
Henderson was asked if he sees any similarities between Kansas City’s 2000 champions and the current Sounders.
“I do,” he said. “Obviously, Fredy Montero has proven to be that guy as a goal scorer. But we have other guys who can contribute as well. Another comparison: That season I led the team in scoring – and I was a midfielder – but we had Preki and Molnar. And this is a team with (Nate) Jaqua, Freddie Ljungberg, Fredy Montero, Sebastien (Le Toux) can score, (Steve) Zakuani and Sanna (Nyassi) – there’s just a lot of offensive weapons, and everyone seems to know they need to defend as well.
“It’s been very positive. There are going to be times when things might not go our way, but I think the whole attitude of the team is so positive in believing in each other, and that’s something that you can build a foundation on.”
Don Ruiz, 253-597-8808
blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer
Sounders FC Gameday
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS (1-2-0; 3 points) AT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC (3-0-0; 9)
When/where: 7:30 p.m., Qwest Field.
TV: KONG 6/16. Radio: 97.3-FM (in Spanish on 1210-AM).
Head-to-head: This is the first meeting. The Sounders will visit Kansas City on Oct. 17.
Team leaders: Kansas City: Goals, Davy Arnaud, 2; assists, five players tied with 1; shots, Claudio Lopez, 10; shots on goal, Lopez, 5; cautions, Herculez Gomez, 2. Seattle: Goals, Fredy Montero, 3; assists, Osvaldo Alonso, 3; shots, Nate Jaqua, 6; shots on goal, Montero, 3; cautions, Alonso, Jhon Hurtado, 2.
Coach Sigi Schmid’s scouting report: “Kansas City has some good pace. Davy Arnaud has good pace. Herculez Gomez has good pace. Josh Wolff has good pace. Two of them play on the flank, one plays in the middle, so that gives them good opportunities to stretch the defense. They’re a team that can be very dangerous on the counter because of that. Claudio Lopez, I think, is playing better than he played last year at this stage. He has a good understanding of the league now. Jimmy Conrad (is) a veteran guy in the back.”
Notes: Fredy Montero and Freddie Ljungberg are expected to be in the Sounders’ starting lineup together for the first time. ... Seattle hasn’t yet allowed a goal, and is the first club in MLS history to record shutouts in its first three games. Kansas City hasn’t allowed a goal over its past 103 minutes. ... The Wizards earned their first points of the season Sunday, beating San Jose, 2-0. The goals came from defender Aaron Hohlbein and Lopez. ... Seattle has scored a league-high five goals before halftime, while the Wizards have allowed only one first-half goal. ... Seattle defenders Tyson Wahl and Taylor Graham both started their MLS careers in Kansas City, and technical director Chris Henderson played and then served as an assistant there. ... The March to the Match from Occidental Park will start at 6 p.m. ... Fans are cautioned that construction will restrict traffic on South Royal Brougham Way. Access to the Qwest Event Center Garage will be available only on one lane from Fourth Avenue South.
Next: 7:30 p.m. April 18, at Chivas USA; Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.
Don Ruiz, The News Tribune
